MSU Billings volleyball falls to Falcons 3-1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu October 10, 2015 MSUB starts strong, but Falcons counter as volleyball drops match to SPU 3-1

MSUB won the first set, but SPU ramped up their offensive efforts, downs the Yellowjackets 3-1 on the road.

MSUB Volleyball on Facebook Interactive Box Score MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU MSU Billings volleyball starts the conference match against Seattle Pacific with a first set 25-23 win, but the Falcons counter, taking the next three sets, delivering the Yellowjackets the loss.

SEATTLE. – MSU Billings volleyball started the night with a win in the first set, but Seattle Pacific countered, taking the next three frames, delivering the Yellowjackets a 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-20) conference loss on the road.

After a slow start Seattle Pacific ramped up its offensive effort in the last three sets of the match. Led by a career-high 27 kills from Lexi Biondi, the sophomore hit .458 (27-5-48) and was part of a team attack percentage that turned around finishing at .250.

MSU Billings began the night at .286, but ended the match behind SPU at .190.

The win moves Seattle Pacific to 6-10 and an even 4-4 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. MSU Billings is now 3-13, 2-6 in the GNAC. “It was another night where we struggled to play consistent volleyball,” MSUB head coach Lisa Axel said. “Taylor Albertson had a great night for us on the right side. She was able to mix up her shots and be effective all night. We really need to improve our defense so we can have second and third opportunities to score during the long rallies.”

Junior Ashlynn Ward finished with 14 kills and freshman Taylor Albertson was just behind her hitting .429 (13-1-28), contributing 13 terminations from the right side.

Aiding SPU Hannah Lautenback produced 13 kills and three blocks, just short of a double-double as she also had nine digs. Ellie Britt finished with 12 kills and two service aces.

Freshman Symone Tran led all players with a big 53 assists. Libero Breanne Wiekamp pumped in 31 digs while Amanda Ganete finished with 11.

Freshman Taylor Sherman led the team with a career-high 19 digs. She too was just short of a double-double, producing nine kills for MSUB. Libero Kimmy Kirk completed 15 digs and junior Stormy Siemion had 10.

Senior Audir Marrs led the blocking efforts at the net for MSUB as she was credited with four.

MSU Billings began the night with a 3-1 lead, but consecutive service aces kicked off a 5-0 Seattle Pacific-run. The ‘Jackets pulled to within three on an error from SPU, but the Falcons rebounded with a kill from Biondi for 10-6.

Ward pounded three kills to the floor for the ‘Jackets keeping MSUB in the first set. Albertson got into the match with two kills, putting the Yellowjackets one back at 13-12. The freshman bounced a ball of the SPU block to tie the match at 14.

Marrs ended a long rally with a point for MSUB, but Biondi countered with a ball that landed on the line. The ‘Jackets pulled ahead again after a SPU error and Ward’s fifth kill of the match. Down 19-16, the Falcons found themselves down by two, causing SPU to burn its first timeout.

Kirk delivered an ace out of the break, but Lautenbach returned with an attack. Britt tied the set at 20-all, but a kill from Albertson and a service ace from Mataia Roderick pushed the Yellowjackets to 22-20, causing the Falcons to call for their last timeout of the set.

MSU Billings had a chance at 23-22 to go for a set point. Instead Biondi picked up her eighth kill on a crosscourt kill, and it was MSUB’s turn for a timeout.

Needing two to close, Albertson came through with a kill and SPU committed a double-hit as MSUB won the first set 2523 for a 1-0 lead.

The MSUB offense went quiet in the second set. Early on, Williams and Marrs put up a double block for a 6-all in the second frame. MSUB engaged on a short run with help from Marrs and Ward, but the Falcons turned it around.

Britt provided the Falcons some traction, reeling off three kills and Shaun Crespi capitalized on an opportunity from a MSUB overpass with a sharp return, giving Seattle Pacific a 14-10 lead.

Utilizing a 9-2 run, the Falcons opened up a sizable 24-15 advantage. Williams kept MSUB in the game with a timely set dump for 24-16. Two errors from the Falcons pushed the ‘Jackets to 18, but Biondi unloaded for her 14th kill of the match to end the set, evening the match at a set apiece.

The third set also featured a 6-6 tie. Crespi added one for SPU on a hard shot. Sherman featured a kill with Ward and Miranda McConnell each pumping in one, opening up a 3-point lead, 14-11. MSU Billings picked up two points won by its defensive efforts.

Seattle Pacific was the first to call for a timeout in the frame. Out of the pause, Albertson hit a neat shot deep for another 3-point lead, 17-14.

Mounting a comeback, the Falcons embarked on a 5-0 run, picking up points from Biondi and Crespi to retake the lead at 19-17. Marrs dropped the lead to one, but Seattle countered with two big points from Lautenbach to reach 22-19.

Alberton denied SPU a set-point with a hard strike across the net, but Lautenbach delivered her third straight point, giving the Falcons the third set 25-21.

Trying to get back into the match, it was a good start from the Yellowjackets with an Albertson kill and the side out. The two teams were tied at five, but gathering steam SPU added six unanswered points for an 11-5 point spread.

Maintaining a comfortable lead, Seattle Pacific kept pushing the score. MSUB peppered in a few points, but down by seven 19-12, the Yellowjackets called for its second timeout of the set.

Their backs against the wall, MSUB made one more attempt to climb back into the set. Ward hit a tough shot on a bump set behind her at 22-18. The ‘Jackets made it interesting forcing a Falcon error and Kirk added one of her two service aces in the set, but it would fall short. With the final three points of the match SPU closed out the fourth set 25-20 for the win.

THE BUZZ: Taylor Albertson named tonight’s St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Match…Sherman bettered her careerhigh in digs by two (19-17)…this is the fifth match in-a-row with 30 or more assists from Williams…Marrs helped MSUB tie SPU in blocks as both teams finished with six.

UP NEXT: MSUB begins a long 5-match home stand. Next week, the Yellowjackets start with Western Oregon on Thursday, Oct. 15 followed by the newest member to the GNAC Concordia (Ore.) during this season’s MSUB Pink Night.

--@MSUBSports | #JacketNation—